Means for supplying fluid under pressure



Feb. l0, 1931.

MCREA PARKER MEANS FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE Filed Feb.

resi' Application lile. Echruary l5, MISES. Serial o. 349,521.36.

rlhis invention relates toy forV supplyingg` fluid, such as air, underpressure, and more particularly to apparatus comprising, in combination, 'a fluid compressor andan expansible receiver or reservoir. v

Although of general application wherever fluid under .pressure is required, my invention is especially 'designed for supplying compressed air for use in connection with apparatus for producing,` combustible gas from gasclene or thelilre. sihle receiver which l preferably employ is of the iioating 'bell orgasonieter type.

Air supplying'devices of t` irs-general character, as heretofore constructed, have comprise/rl a nio-tor driven compressor or blower, mounted on a suitable base, and connected by a pipe line with a gascineter or the like, anc an automatic switch for controlling` the niotor mounted 'on some fixed support and operated either by fluid pressure or by the ioating bell.

Such an arrangement, when employed for domestic purposes, and located, as usual, in the cellar or basement of a residence, has been found somewhat objectionable both on account of the space required, and of the noise and vibration made by the rapidly ro-k tating motor and blower. Moreover, Vamore or less complicated system Vof piping and wiring has been required, thus entailing a relativelylarge expense for installation.

The object of the present invention is to provide motor driven air supplying appara.- tus ofthe character in question which shall he more compact and require less Vspace than those heretofore proposed, `which shall be substantiall cuiet and noiseless in o aeration and in which the pipingand wiring systems y shall he greatly simplified and consequently the installation cost proportionately reduced. vWith the above object in view, the inven tion contemplates the mounting ofthe ino' tor,'blower and switch directly on the -floating bell itself, thus producing1 a single, compact, self-contained, enclosed unit, with no outside pipeconnection between the blower and receive-r, and to which unit current can beV suppliedby a flexible Vconductor cord Also, the eXpanprevent y inafter pl gged into any convenient soclret or out# let. Y Jin order that the invention maybe `clearly understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in whichzlj l is a vertical central section my improved fluid compressing and storing apparatus;

4 Fig. 2 is a similar view Abut taken on a plane `substantially at right angles to that of li'.

l, nainel on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, looking' inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. and 5` are fragmentary sectional elevations 'similar to Fig. Q liut showing the ia1+ in dii'ferent positions. Referring to the drawings in detail my improved apparatus comprises a tank or container l preferably formed of sheet metal iaving a top or cover 2 secured thereto in any suitable way.

Enclosed within the container l is a floating hell or gasoineter comprising a cylinder 3, also preferably formed of sheet metal, hav-v in@` a partition l extending transversely across the near upper end. This partition is 'provided with a peripheral mange 5 and is secured to the cylinder 3 as by riveting or weldingi.V lrojecting centrally upward from the partition 4 is relatively small cylindrical housing)T closed at its upper end as shown. rlhis housing for the purpose of accommodating the upper open end of a delivery pipo 8 which extends downwardly through the body'of water and passes outof the containerat a point near the bottoni, as clearly shown inFig. l, for conducting the air to the carbureting device.

rlfhe cylinder 3 extends considerable di tance above the partitior er, as shown at an is spaced from the Y l vby means of a plurality of guide rollers 6, placed near the top and nearv the bottoni thereof. ln order to reduce vibration and the transmission of sor ids, as heredescribed, these rollers are preferably rade of rubber or sin'iilar soft material which is a poor conductor of sound.

through l walls of the container il (l Upon the top of partition d of the floating bell, and surrounding the housing` 7, l place a mass or slab 9 of heavy material such as concrete or cast iron. is shown, 'this material consists of a concrete mass molded in situ.

rlhe purpose of this mass or slab .is to provide paiU of the necessary weight, and also to serve as a base on which the motor and blower or pump are mounted. The motor and pump themselves maire up the remaining weight required.

llhe motor is designated at l0, and the pump, which is shown as a rotary blower, is illustrated at l2, the latter being driven by the for ner by means of a suitable belt ll. lt will be observed that both the motor and pump are mounted direatly upon the concrete slab 9 and are supported -wholly on and move with the floating bell or gasometer.

Air is tshcn in to the blower through an inlet pipe having a strainer i3 at its end, and is delivered from 'the outlet l This is connected, as by means of a rt piece of flexible hose l5 with the upper end of a pipe lll which vertically through the parti` tion Il and concrete slab, the joint where it passes through the partition being rendered air tight by means of washers and loch nuts 16a.

This pipe may, if desired, terminate a short distance below the partition 4,-, but preferably it is extended downwardly to a. point near the bottom of the bell, so that an effective wate seal is provided, and is then bent laterally, as shown at i6, so as to deliver at a point near the center of the bell. Thus the air issuing from the lower end of this pipe travels upwardly through the body of water, and collects under the bell.

F rom the foregoing, it will be seen that the container l constitutes the fixed part, and the .floating bell 3, l, the movable part of a rerei ver of the expansible chamber type, and that the pump and motor are mounted upon the movable part of such receiver.

ln order to autoimiftically control the motor circuit so as to start and stop the blower when the pressure falls or rises to predetermined desired limits, l provide a switch, designated in its entirety by the immoral 17. This switch may be of any suit-able three position type, but preferably embodies a tilting tube containing mercury. The switch. as clearly shown in the drawings, is also mounted securely upon the concrete 9, and is provided with a stem or column 'i8 projer-ting upwardly therefrom. Tl'irough this stem or column extends an opera-ting rod i9. Operatively conn cted with the rod 19 at the upper end of the colun'in i8 is a lever 20, having a pin and slot connection at its outer end with the lower end of a verti cally extending rod 2l which passes freely through an opening in the top 2 of the con sli tainer. rllhis rod carries a stop collar 22 which normally engages the under surface of the top 2 and is provided at its upper ond with a linob or button 24. Between this knob and the top 2 is interposed a helical spring 23 surrounding1 the rod 2l. The purpose of this will be described later.

Current is supplied to the motor by means of a horrible cord 25 pas.` ng through a suitable insulating bushing 26 in the top 2 of the rontainer and provieed at its free end with a plug (not shown) by means of which it may be connected t any convenient socket or outlet. @ne of the wires 25 of this cord extends to the switch, and the other, 25", cX- ends to the motor, while a conductor 27 con- .ects the other terminals of the switch and motor, thus placing the two in series with the line.

rEhe operation of my improved apparatus will now be briefly described. rlfhe switch being closed and the conductor cord connected to a suitable source of supply, current will flow as described and operate the motor, driving the blower l2, and deliver air under pressure therefrom through the hose l5 and V)ipe lli into the interior of the float-ing bell This will of course cause the bell to rise compressed air accumulates in the same, and when it ha.. risen to a predetern'iined limit, such for example as that illustrated in Fig. 5, the switch is automatically operated to open the motor rircuit. This, as will be seen, is effected by the depression of the lever 2O by reason of the engagement of the stop collar 22 on the rod 2l with the top 2 of the container, as the bell rises.

As the air is discharged from delivery pipe 8, the bell gradually falls or sinks, until, whenv it has reached the normal lower limit of its movement, such, for example, as illus trated in Fig. il, the switch is again operated by means of the lever 20 and rod 2l. to close the circuit and starJ the blower in operation again.

lt will be understood that 'he spring .i3 is relatively stiff, and is of sufficient strength to practically anchor the rod 2l to the top 2, so far as the ope; .tion of the switch is :oneerned. l'n other words, the rod 21 remains substantially lined as the bell rises and falls, thus serving to move the lever 20 and operate the switch as the bell reaches the upper and lower limits of its normal movement.

lt sometimes happens, however, that the power supply is interrupted, and no current is available for a considerable period. lf air is being used during such period it is obvious that the bell will `gradually sink downn ward and, when the position shown in Fig. slis reached, the circuit will be closed. As the air continues to escape through delivery pipe 8, the bell will finally reach its abnormal low position, as shown in Figs. l and 2, in which its lower edge rests against the pipe S.

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, andthe air became exhausted, become extinguished. l Should the power thereafter be restored, and current be again supplied to the motor, the apparatus would automatically lstart up and would force combustible gas through the burners and thus into the house, with the result that disastrous eliects might follow a subsequent attempt to light the burners.

ln order to provide against this contingency, it is necessary to employ means so arranged that, when the'bell settles to the ab-y normal position shown in Figs. l and 2, the motor circuit will be opened. This may be accomplished by the use of a separate switch, but preferably the switch 17 is so constructed that the circuit is open when the lever .2O is in either the position shown in Fig. 5, or in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

After the switch has 1been opened by theV movement of the bell to its abnormally low position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is necessary to manually close the switch againbefore the motor can start. This therefore constitutes a safety feature of my improved apparatus, which feature is required by the fire underwriters.

Tn order to manually close the switch it is only necessary to press upon the lrnob 24:, thus forcing the rod 2l and lever 20 down into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This, it will be seen by comparison with the position of the lever shown in Fig. t, will serve to close the circuit, and it is necessary to hold the rod and lever in this position for a few moments until the pressure in the bell builds up to such a point as to raise it to the level shown in Fig. il. The

knob 24C may then be released and the motor and switch will continue their normal operation.

In Figs. l and 2, which show the apparatus with the air practically exhau'stecl,the level of the water will be the same, both inside and outside of the bell, as shown at X. During normal operation of the`apparatus, however, the water level will be higher at outside of the bell than at jz/ i side of the bell. The higher the pressure within the bell the greater this dilference in level, as will be seen by a comparison of Figs. e and 5.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that l have provided an air compressing and supplying device which is exceedingly simple in construction, compact, easy to install and safe in operation. Tt 'is also evident that the cushioning edect of therfloating bell will serve to absorb the vibration due to the motor part.

and blower, and that' the sound insulatingV rollers 6 will prevent the transmission ot' noises or vibration to the container. Thus the device is practically silent in operation. What Iclaim is: Y Y

`1. An apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination, a fluid receiver of the eirpansible chamber type having fixed and movable parts,` and a pump and motor therefor mounted'onzsaid movable 2. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a fluid receiver of the eXpansible chamber'type having fixed and movable parts, and a pump, electric motor and switch Vfor controlling the same, all mounted on said movable part.

3. Apparatus for supplying 'fluid under pressure comprising in combination, a fluid 'receiver of the VeXp ansible chamber type having Vvfixed and movable parts, a motor driven pump delivering into said receiver, a switch for controlling the motor mounted on said movable part, and operating mechanism connected with said switch and anchored to said fixed part. A

A. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a unitary, portable container, and a motor, pump and floating bell gasometer allv enclosed within said container. Y

5. Apparatus `for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a container, a floating bell therein, and a motor driven pump for forcing fluid into said bell, saidV pump being wholly supported on the bell itself.

6. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a 'contai-ner, a floating bell therein, a pump, a motor for driving the same, and a switch for controlling said motor, all mounted on said hell, and means whereby said switch is operated -by movement of said bell.

l7. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a container, a floating bell therein, a pump, a motor for driving the same, said pump and motor being' mounted'on the bell itself, a switch for controlling said motor, and means whereby said switch is operated by movement of said bell. f

8. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressurecomprising in combination a container,`a floating bell therein, a pump, a motor for driving the same, and a switch for controlling said motor, said switch being mounted on said bell, and operating mechanism for said switch connected with said con-- tainer.

9. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a closed container having a top, a floating bell therein, a pump, a motor for driving the same, and a switch for controlling said motor, said llG switeh being mounted on said bell, and operating mechanism for said switch anchored to the top of said container.

10. Apparatus for supplying` fluid under pressure comprising in combination a container, a floating bell therein, a pump for delivering fluid thereto, a motor for driving ysaid pump, a switch for controlling said m0 tor, said switch being mounted on said bell, and operatig means for said switch comprising` a rod passing loosely through a wall of said container, and means for limiting the movement of said rod relative to such wall.

ll. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a container, a floating bell therein, a pump for de livering fluid thereto, a motor for driving said pump, a yswitch for controlling said motor, said switch being mounted on said bell, and operating means for said switch comprising a rod passing loosely through a wall et' said container, and mea-ns for positively limiting the movement of said rod in one direction and yieldingly limiting it in the other.

12. Apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination a container, a floating bell therein, a pump for delivering fluid thereto, a motor for driving said pump, a switch for controlling said motor, said switch being mounted on said bell, and operating means for said switch comprising a rod passing loosely through a wall of said container, and means for yieldingly anchoring said rod to said wall with suliicient strength to hold it stationary so as to ellect normal automatic operation ot said switch as the bell moves, while permitting it to be manually shilted for emergency operation of said switch.

13. Apparatus or supplying fluid under pressure comprising in combination' a container, a floating bell therein, a pump for delivering fluid thereto, a motor for driving said pump, a switch or controlling said motor, said switch being mounted on said bell, automatic means for closing said switch when the bell falls to a predetermined normal low level, and 'lor opening said switch when said bell either rises to a predetermined normal high level or 'falls to an abnormally low level, and means for manually closing said switch when it has been opened by the fall of the bell to an abnormally low level.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

MCREA PARKER. 

